Psalm 119:105

Wounds from the battlefield

I have a friend who has completed a couple of military tours in Afghanistan. He suffered a battle scar that he’ll carry with him the rest of his life. While the incident did not end his life, he’ll carry this visible, physical wound around for the rest of his days.

I have not talked with him about the specifics of the incident, but he’s said enough about it to lead me to two conclusions: 1) it provides a constant reminder of the pain and suffering that war brings, and 2) he’s decided to let go of any regret associated with the incident and move forward with a forgiving heart.

That’s hard to grasp, isn’t it? He’s daily reminded of the painful experience, but he’s eyeing the future with a sense of peace and forgiveness.

We all have wounds. While they might not all be physically apparent, they are often lingering beneath the surface.

Wounds from painful past experiences. Wounds from times when we struggle to forgive others.

And wounds from not being able to forgive ourselves- which are perhaps the most painful of all.

How do we mend wounds?

First, we need to remember that we have a caring, loving God.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7

We also need to seek forgiveness- and grant forgiveness.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4: 32

And we need to fill wounds with prayer and other healthy activities…constantly seeking the presence of Jesus.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15: 7

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One thought on “Wounds from the battlefield”

…great thoughts, Keith. I hope the parts I remember are that two critical parts of being healed are (a) humbling myself (your 1 Peter citation) and (b) being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving others (your Ephesians citation). It’s too easily forgotten that OUR healing has just as much to do with others as it does ourselves. Thanks for the reminder!